Normalcy returns in restive Kashmir

Traffic snarls were seen at many places as shoppers thronged markets to stockpile supplies after the separatists allowed people to resume normal activities for a day today.

Despite an holiday on Sunday, schools, colleges, banks and private offices reopened and transport plied on roads as calm returned to the valley.

This is for the second time in nearly a month that normalcy returned to the valley. On July 17, shops, schools and commercial establishments reopened after the separatists allowed people to resume normal activities.

The situation in the valley became tense on June 11 when a teenager was killed after he was hit by a teargas shell at Gani Stadium near Rajourikadal.

The situation worsened on June 26 with the authorities clamping curfew and promulgating prohibitory orders to foil a march to Sopore called by the separatists.

As the situation deteriorated further in the wake of killing of three youths in Batmaloo area in Srinagar, army was deployed